60 suspects arrested in Lahore terror attack

Lahore, March 4 (IANS) As many as 60 people have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team here that left eight people dead and six players and their assistant coach injured as a case was registered against the terrorists. The police raided markets in Lahore and recovered arms from several markets, Geo TV reported Wednesday.

Adviser to Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik told reporters the terrorists came from three sides and trapped the Sri Lankan convoy.

Geo News reported that the intelligence sources had informed the Punjab government of the possibility of terror attack on the Sri Lankan team following which former chief minister Shahbaz Sharif had issued orders to step up security arrangements.

A committee has been constituted to probe into attack and a report, in this regard, will be filed within 24 hours.

On Tuesday night, candles were lit at Liberty Market crossing by representatives of civil society.

Bouquets and garlands were also placed there.

Terrorists armed with automatic weapons Tuesday opened fire at the convoy of the Sri Lankan cricket team as it headed for Lahore’s Gaddafi stadium. A military helicopter later whisked the players to safety as Sri Lanka abandoned its Pakistan tour.

Six of those killed were police bodyguards meant to provide security to the team, while two bystanders also lost their lives as the terrorists spread mayhem in the area for almost 25 minutes.

A group of 12 gunmen carrying rocket launchers and grenades targeted the team bus about 500 yards from Gaddafi stadium, where Sri Lanka was to play Pakistan on the third day of their second cricket test.

The attack, being compared to the 26/11 Mumbai carnage, was the biggest attack on foreigners in Pakistan since the attack on Islamabad’s Marriott Hotel last September in which the Czech ambassador and three American marines were among the 53 people killed.